The Celtic League, 30 April
2001:
CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION
LUDLOW - GOVT URGED TO HEED ENQUIRY CALL
The Celtic league has re-iterated its support for calls by the family
of a Co. Louth man murdered 25 years for a public enquiry into the
circumstances of his killing
Seamus Ludlow was a 47-year-old forestry worker from Thistlecross,
Mountpleasant, near Dundalk who was murdered on the 2nd of May 1976.
It is believed his killing was a case of mistaken identity and that
his killers were a loyalist murder gang, at that time operating in
the Armagh border area of N. Ireland.
There is also a strong suspicion of complicity in the killing by the
British security forces, who it is alleged were using murder gangs
in the north at the time. The use of such irregular forces was based
on a counter insurgency theory developed by Frank Kitson an intelligence
officer with the British Army.
In January the Minister for Justice, John O'Donoghue, indicated in
correspondence to the Celtic League that he was considering ways of
meeting the Ludlow families concerns. The Irish government had proposed
a private enquiry headed by a senior judicial figure. This was rejected
by the Ludlow family.
In correspondence (attached) to government Minister Dermot Ahern,
who is also a Louth TD, the League urge a rethink.
Bernard Moffatt
Celtic League
30/04/01
The Minister for Social, Community & Family Affairs
Mr. Dermot Ahern TD
Office of the Minister
Store Street
Dublin 1
Ireland
30/04/01
Dear Minister,
We write with reference to the unresolved murder of Seamus Ludlow.
The Celtic League have supported the call of the Ludlow family for
an independent public enquiry into this matter and indeed we wrote
to An Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice and the Secretary of State
for N. Ireland on this issue recently (encl.).
The League understand that recently a demonstration to commemorate
the 25th anniversary of the murder was held by family and friends
and that prior to this you reiterated the governments unwillingness
to establish such an enquiry. It was disappointing to hear this.
In January the Minister for Justice did seem to indicate, in correspondence
to us (encl.), that a formula acceptable to the Ludlow family would
be found. One of the most positive aspects of the British-Irish peace
process is the willingness amongst all sections of the community to
confront uncomfortable truths. I do not believe that the British Security
Services, however much they might wish it, are immune from that process.
There have for many years been suspicions about the operation of clandestine
military units and their utilisation of loyalist paramilitary groups.
Indeed there is currently a furore in the media in the north of Ireland
because of attempts by UTV to highlight the activities of such groups.
It is only a full independent enquiry, such as the Ludlow family
are seeking, which can expose the truth. I do hope that the Irish
government will reconsider its stance.
Yours sincerely,
J B Moffatt
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries of the
western British Isles and Brittany. It works to promote cooperation
between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political,
cultural and environmental matters. It targets human rights abuse
and monitors all military activity within these areas.
TEL (UK)01624 627128 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609
Internet site at http://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/index.html
news site at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league
b.moffatt@advsys.co
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Further
Celtic League statements.
LOUTH MURDER -
ENQUIRY CALL SUPPORT - 07/29/02
LUDLOW MURDER
DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT - 07/17/02
No.362 MINISTER EVASIVE ON LUDLOW QUERY
- 5/15/2001
No.239 LUDLOW MURDER - PROPOSALS SOON -
2/1/2001
No.164 MURDER GANG ENQUIRY CALL -
10/30/2000
Press Reports
The
Irish Independent, 19 July 2002: Fresh
inquest into death of murdered man
The
Irish News, 19 July 2002: Family
welcome inquest 26 years after murder
The
Irish Times, 19 July 2002: New
inquest ordered into Louth man's death
The
Dundalk Democrat, 20 July 2002: Second
inquest to be held into the death of Seamus Ludlow
The
Sunday Life, 28 July 2002: Inquest
to name Ludlow killers
